Wat Chalerm Phrakiet

Wat Chalerm Phrakiet is a classic Buddhist monastery situated on the right bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bang Kruai District of Nonthaburi Province. King Rama III orderded this large and impressive temple built in 1847 to commemorate his mother, who once lived in the area. The temple was built within an old fortification built by King Narai of Ayutthaya in the seventeenth century. The outer wall, in particular the side facing the river, still resembles a fortress. The temple consists of a large ordination hall, flanked by two smaller prayer halls. All three buildings feature roofs with gables richly decorated using colored porcelain, giving them a Chinese flavor that was popular at the time. The doors and window shutters are decorated with rather simple but elegant designs on black lacquer. Inside the ubosot there are pictures of the current royal family on their many visits to the temple. Behind the ubosot is a large white-washed chedi built by King Rama IV (Mongkut) in the mid-nineteenth century.

Ayutthaya Historical Research